For the third year in a row, Gainesville High School has been identified by U.S. News and World Report as one of "America's Best High Schools." For the past three years, the magazine has examined the nation's high schools, and Gainesville High School has ranked among the best every year.
A ranking system developed by School Evaluation Services (a K-12 education data research and analysis business run by Standard & Poor's) was used. Data from 21,786 public high schools in 49 states was analyzed. Of those schools, 1,750 were recognized as being the country's best. Only 41 of those recognized were in Missouri, representing 7.1% of the state's high schools. Other nearby schools recognized include Conway, Hollister, West Plains and Winona.
Of the 41 Missouri high schools recognized, Gainesville is one of only ten schools that have been recognized as "America's Best" all three years.
U.S. News evaluated how each school's students were performing on state-mandated tests in math and communication arts as compared to their state's average scores in those areas. It then evaluated how each school's disadvantaged students performed compared to the state average for similar students. GHS's performance on these two criteria earned it "bronze medal" status.
To be considered for a gold or silver medal, schools were evaluated on the number of seniors who took "Advanced Placement" courses and how they performed on the AP tests. Gainesville currently does not offer AP courses, opting instead to provide several dual enrollment courses so that its juniors and seniors can earn college credit while still in high school.
"We are very pleased," said Gainesville R-V Superintendent Bill Looney. "Our teachers and students have consistently performed well on the MAP tests as well as on the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP). In fact, this year we earned a perfect score on our Annual Performance Report from the state. It's nice to be recognized as one of the top schools in the state and nation."
